A new mobile application from Welsh social network Tŵt will be officially introduced later this month.
Scheduled for launch in Cardiff on 28 February, the development represents a major milestone for the community-owned platform. Having spent eight years building a loyal early user base, the network is now aiming to reach a wider audience with a more intuitive and user-friendly interface.
The launch event follows the six-week Pethau Bychain campaign, which has encouraged widespread engagement with the idea of a healthier digital ecosystem. Guests will be offered an advance look at the app before it becomes publicly available on Dydd Gŵyl Dewi.
Jaz-Michael King, Tŵt Cymru’s founder and Director said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our mobile app as the next step in our journey.
“This launch comes at a period of unprecedented volatility for mainstream social media. With platforms like X (formerly Twitter) facing ongoing instability, uncertainty surrounding the new ownership of TikTok, and the increasing commercialisation of user data, the need for a stable, community-owned alternative has never been more urgent.
“Tŵt offers a digital lifeboat for Wales and the Welsh, at home and abroad—a space that cannot be bought, sold, or broken by the whims of a single billionaire.”
The project is underpinned by a partnership with the Newsmast Foundation, which has supplied the core infrastructure through its Apps for Change initiative. The collaboration is intended to promote independent media and locally governed communication channels that are not shaped by commercial algorithms.
Michael Foster, Co-Founder of the Newsmast Foundation and ex-director of Reuters New Media said: “Journalism needs a home that isn’t owned by a billionaire or governed by an opaque algorithm. This is about more than just social media; it’s about creating the self-governed infrastructure necessary for communities, supported by independent news, to survive and thrive. We’re proud to be working with Tŵt to showcase our technology and help Welsh people take another step towards digital sovereignty.”
The concept has attracted backing from those focused on strengthening Wales’ digital independence.
Dr David Clubb, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales, notes that community-owned digital spaces like Tŵt are essential for a sovereign, connected, and sustainable Wales. He said: “The adoption of communication tools by the public sector in Wales has seen us become dependent on American-owned global media giants, where surveillance has become baked into our ability to receive public information. This is the antithesis of future generations’ thinking.
“Tŵt offers a completely different direction of radical open-ness and community that is both exhilarating, and beautifully aligned with Wales’ future generations obligations.”
Jaz-Michael King added: “This isn’t just about launching an app; it’s about gathering the people who will call this space home.
“We will convene in the heart of our national capital to celebrate culture, community, and digital sovereignty – proving that Wales can lead the way in creating social spaces that prioritise people over profit.”
As a Welsh-focused Fediverse node, Tŵt connects users to a wider global network that includes Mastodon, Bluesky, WordPress, Ghost, Pixelfed and Peertube. The St David’s Day launch underscores its ambition to contribute to contemporary Welsh culture while remaining part of an international social web.
More information can be found at croeso.toot.wales and at www.newsmastfoundation.org.